Canada Student Visa

It wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that Canada remains one of the top study destinations for Pakistani students. Every year, thousands of Pakistani students apply to Canadian universities for higher education. While admission standards may vary, all Canadian institutions of higher learning share the same visa requirements. In this blog, we will exclusively focus on the Canada student visa, including its requirements, application process, visa fees, processing time, and bank statement requirements, among other essential aspects. So, be sure to read through to the end.

If you’ve conducted some research on the Canada student visa, you must have encountered two terms: “Study Permit” and “Student Visa.” These terms are not interchangeable. To study in Canada, you require a Study Permit. However, in this blog, we will frequently use the term “Student Visa” instead of “Study Permit” since this is the phrasing most commonly used by potential Pakistani students in Canada when searching for information about the Study Permit.

Canada Student Visa Requirements

You need the following three mandatory documents to apply for a Canadian student visa:

Proof of Acceptance – Your school should provide you with an acceptance letter, which you must include with your study permit application in its original or electronic form.
Proof of Identity – When applying for your study permit in Canada, you and any accompanying family members need the following:

A valid passport or travel document.
- For online applications, upload a copy of your passport’s information page.
- If approved, you must send your original passport.
- Everyone should provide two recent passport-size photos, with the person’s name and date of birth written on the back of each photo.

Proof of Financial Support – To meet the financial requirement for yourself and your accompanying family members in Canada, you can provide proof of funds through various means:

A Canadian bank account in your name if you’ve transferred money to Canada.
A Guaranteed Investment Certificate (GIC) from a participating Canadian financial institution.
Proof of a student or education loan from a bank.
Your bank statements for the past four months.
A bank draft convertible to Canadian dollars.
Evidence of tuition and housing fee payments.
A letter of financial support from an individual or educational institution.
Proof of funding received within Canada, especially if you have a scholarship or are part of a Canadian-funded educational program.

In addition, you may need the following documents as well:

Letter of Explanation – This letter is crucial for the visa officer to comprehend your intentions and responsibilities as a student. It should clarify:

Your reasons for choosing to study in Canada.
Your understanding of the obligations that come with being a student.

You should include this letter when applying for a study permit, even if your program doesn’t require one.

Medical Exam – You might require a medical examination in these cases:

If your stay in Canada is over 6 months.
If you’ve recently been in specific countries.
If you intend to work in certain jobs vital for public health protection.

Other Documents – If the Canadian government requires further documents from you, they will contact you. You will have 30 days to submit these documents.

How to Apply for Student Visa in Canada

When applying for a study permit, you must use the online application, regardless of your location. The only exception is if you have a disability that prevents you from applying online, in which case you can apply using a paper application.

Eligible Pakistani students can apply through the Student Direct Stream (SDS). This means that if you meet all the eligibility requirements, including full payment of tuition for the first year of study and get your biometrics done as soon as possible, your visa application may be processed within 20 calendar days.

To apply online, you need:

A scanner or camera to make electronic copies of your documents.
A valid credit or debit card for payment.

We strongly urge you to Read the Instructions Guide before completing your application. It will answer almost all of your questions.

You need an online account, which you can use to:

Pay your fees.
Submit your application.
Check your application status.

Canada Student Visa Fees

The current per application fee is CAN$150.

Canada Student Visa Processing Time

As mentioned above, if you apply through the Student Direct Stream, your application may be processed within 20 working days. However, if you apply through the regular study permit application process, it may take longer than 20 working days to process your application.

Bank Statement for Canada Student Visa

Your bank statement for the past 4 months must show enough funds to cover one year of tuition and living expenses in Canada.

Your bank statement must display the following details, which represent the minimum yearly funds required for living in Canada. These funds do not include the tuition fees.

Persons coming to Canada	Amount of funds required per year (not including tuition)
You (the student)	CAN$10,000
First family member	CAN$4,000
Every additional accompanying family member	CAN$3,000

If you are coming to Canada alone, in addition to your tuition, you must demonstrate that you have CAN$10,000 in your account for one year.

You can prove your reliable source of funds, convertible to Canadian dollars, with documents like: